Companies not doing enough to protect themselves from cybersecurity risks, believing their business will not be a target for attacks January 27, 2016 Despite business leaders' concerns about cybersecurity, companies are failing to protect themselves against risks, believing the worst will not happen to them. Research released today by insurer Aviva has found that two in five (44 per cent) small- and medium-sized businesses in the UK think the odds are unlikely of them being the target of a cyberattack [...]
UK flooding costs: Insurance losses from Storm Eva and Desmond top £1bn December 27, 2015 The economic damage of the torrential rains and floods that are forcing hundreds to flee from their homes in northern England could be as high as £1bn. Storm Eva has struck Yorkshire and Lancashire hard over Christmas, flooding many of the same regions that were hit by Storm Desmond just weeks ago. Although it may [...]
London Mayor and Berkeley Homes to build 3,500 homes on Newham Parcelforce depot site March 15, 2016 Berkeley Homes is pushing ahead with a scheme to turn a disused Parcelforce depot in east London into 3,500 homes – including one of London’s largest private rental schemes – after agreeing the terms of the deal with London mayor Boris Johnson. Speaking at the annual MIPIM property conference in Cannes this afternoon, Berkeley Group chairman [...]
Legal expert warns UK’s North Sea industry risks suffering a “brain drain” May 17, 2016 A legal expert warned employment law has left the UK's already embattled North Sea oil and gas sector at risk of a "brain drain". Katie Williams, employment specialist and partner at Pinsent Masons, blamed the widespread use of contracts which stop individuals joining a potential competitor for anything up to 12 months after leaving a job. [...]
PwC to ditch A-level requirements to reach students from “wider pockets of society” May 4, 2015 Graduates will no longer need spotless A-level grades to land a job at accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The firm, one of the biggest graduate employers in the country, argued that by using Ucas points (a measure of a secondary school student's qualifications) to screen applicants, it was missing out on recruits from more disadvantaged backgrounds. [...]
Abbey Life, Countrywide, Old Mutual, Police Mutual, Prudential and Scottish Widows face further investigation into life insurance exit charges by Financial Conduct Authority March 3, 2016 Six insurance firms face investigation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into what impact exit charges are having on their customers. The announcement follows today's publication of a review by the watchdog into 11 firms on fair treatment of long-standing life insurance customers. Six of the 11 companies – Abbey Life, Countrywide Assured, Old Mutual, Police Mutual, Prudential [...]
Airbnb your house: Here’s how much Londoners could be making from the sharing economy July 13, 2016 The sharing economy is growing faster in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. As it has become more expensive to own cars, homes and even electrical equipment, more of us are seeing the advantages of monetising our idle assets. PwC estimates that transactions on platforms in the five biggest sharing economy sectors almost doubled in [...]
UK Weather: Storms Desmond, Eva and Frank have already cost insurers £24m, with the total bill looking like it could be £1.3bn January 11, 2016 Insurers have already forked out nearly £24m in emergency payments to deal with the aftermath of storms Desmond, Eva and Frank. Statistics released today by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which is a trade association for insurers and represents over 250 companies, revealed that these emergency payments comprised of £9m to domestic customers and £15m [...]
Terrorism is now a key business risk – and too many companies are insufficiently prepared March 24, 2016 Terrorism is a threat that has clearly registered with London’s top executives. Along with fraud, regulation and reputation, it’s up there as a major risk that could damage their business and, worse, harm the public and their employees. With the threat level currently at “severe”, we should be under no illusions: terrorists would dearly love to [...]
UK house prices: MPs show cross-party support for emerging build to rent sector March 9, 2016 Cross-party MPs have thrown their weight behind build to rent, with a survey released today showing that more than four in five support the sector as a means of tackling Britain's housing crisis. A new poll of 150 MPs, commissioned from ComRes by the British Property Federation (BPF), found that 91 per cent Conservative MPs and 71 per [...]